I knew Nintendo loves me. You can thank me later, since you guys get to reap the benefits, too.
In all seriousness, the original Super Mario Kart is now available on the Virtual Console for 800 Wii Points, just as promised. What more needs to be said? Well, maybe that in most circumstances, such a title would be all that we get on Virtual Console for the week, but not this time; it is joined by the original NES title A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia for 500 Wii Points as well.
WiiWare is BIT.TRIPping with VOID for 600 Wii Points, while Harvest Moon: My Little Shop commands 1,200, the rather vague Little Tournament Over Yonder for 800, and a rare EC-rated game for 500 in Learning with the PooYoos: Episode 1.
Finally, DSiWare has plenty to choose from, though five are Electroplankton titles at 200 DSi Points a pop. Those are accompanied by myNotebook: Blue, also 200, and Gameloft's Castle Of Magic for 500.
Check out the press release after the cut for more details on each title. Read More

Nintendo has released the planned publishing schedule as it stands for the Wii and Nintendo DS/DSi, from both themselves and their third-parties. A lot of definite dates are not set in, instead referenced as "Fall," "Holiday," or "November," for example, but nonetheless serves to give us an idea of what the coming months will bring.
"This extensive lineup will keep players busy throughout the fall and into 2010," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Shoppers know that Nintendo offers fun for everyone in the household."
Nintendo also mentions the upcoming black Wii Remote, Nunchuk, and MotionPlus as being available "this holiday season," though they don't get any more specific than that.
Hit the jump for the full press release and list of games that will become available. Read More

Hmm, this week doesn't look too shabby in the Nintendo Download sector, not when compared to some weeks, at any rate.
The big draw appears to be BIT.TRIP CORE, the 600-point neo-retro action/rhythm game for WiiWare, but it's not alone: Taito has brought BUST-A-MOVE Plus! to the service as well, offering some puzzle action for the very same price. And that's not all, as Heracles seems to join the comic-mischief genre of kart racing, only instead of go-karts, he's bringing the fire with chariots.
Virtual Console goes back to the Commodore 64 with California Games, a game I remember more for its NES iteration, which was even featured on an ep or two of Captain N: The Game Master. Usually in episodes featuring Mega Man and Dr. Wily, now that I think about it, and if I'm not mistaken.
Finally, DSiWare updates with Art Style: BASE 10, an interesting numbers game, and 3D racing in Asphalt 4: Elite Racing. Find out more about all of these in the full press release after the cut. Read More

"You sit there, and you talk about your online and your DLC... well, Wii-kly Update 3/16 says I just whooped your ass!"
Sorry, but when else would I have such a great opportunity to channel Stone Cold? But in reality, the Wii-kly Update is looking a bit like an if-fy update this week.
For the Virtual Console, we have Commodore 64's Summer Games II; I don't remember if we got Summer Games or not, but then, there have been a fair number of VC releases which have been anything but chronological.
The WiiWare release of the week seems as though it may have a little more promise, at least for the retro crowd. BIT.TRIP BEAT features "retro visuals, classic game play, four-player multiplayer and an 8-bit soundtrack," so that's definitely enticing. On the other hand, it's a rhythm game... and I absolutely suck at those.
We'll have some screens of BIT.TRIP BEAT soon, and for now, you can learn more about each title after the cut. Read More